4-39 The Five Sikhs came back to Amritsar

Baba Bhudda ji, Bhai Gurdas ji and the other Sikhs who were in Amritsar were doing Simran of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They were waiting to see him as they longed for his sight.  The Sikhs said: “we have found out that the Emperor has left Lahore.  Why hasn’t Guru ji returned yet?  We don’t understand why Guru ji is till in Lahore.”  They kept waiting for Guru ji.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji was about 11 years old.  He was sitting in the Sangat.  In this time, the 5 Sikhs: Bhai Langha ji, Bhai Pirana ji, Bhai Bidhi Chand ji, Bhai Jetha ji and Bhai Paira ji returned from Lahore.  They were depressed.  They looked pale and tired.  They bowed to Guru Hargobind ji with humility.  They were not able to speak as they were struck with grief.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji said: “where have you left Guru ji?  The 5 of you were with Guru ji.  Why didn’t you bring him back?  You look depressed.  Is Guru ji coming behind?  Has he stopped to bathe?  Is he sitting down somewhere?  Why didn’t you wait for him?  One of you should have come to get us to receive him.  All 5 of you left him.  You don’t look too happy.  What is the reason for this?”  The 5 Sikhs looked at each other and didn’t say anything.  Guru ji spoke: “something is not right.  Why are you quiet?  Why are your heads lowered?  Looking at you is making me depressed.  Tell me quickly.”  Bhai Pirana ji wanted to speak but his throat was swollen from emotional distress.  He said: “Sache Paatshaah, I can’t speak.”  He began to cry.  He screamed out loud in grief.  The other Sikhs, Baba Bhudda ji and Bhai Gurdas ji went into a sudden shock.  Their excitement turned into worry on their faces in an instance as they saw Bhai Pirana ji crying.  Guru ji said: “tell us everything.  Who stopped Guru ji?  What is the problem?  The Emperor is not in Lahore.  Where is Guru ji staying?  Who didn’t let Guru ji come?  Let’s do something to free him.  Why are you upset?  Tell us the truth.  Since the Ahadis came, we knew something was wrong with the Turks.  I can see that they were turning against the Guru’s home.  Chandoo was filling Jahangir’s ears.  Tell us what happened.”  Bhai Bidhi Chand ji settled himself and told Guru Hargobind Sahib ji everything: “Guru ji met the Badshah.  It was evening after Guru ji spent 2 hours with Jahangir.  After we left the court, many soldiers surrounded us.  There were about 150 soldiers.  Chandoo took us to his home.  We didn’t know what discussion Guru ji had with Jahangir.  We don’t know if Jahangir said something but we went to Chandoo’s home with Guru ji.  When we entered his Haveli, the main gate of the Haveli was closed.  We were locked up in the Deodi.  Guru ji was taken inside.  They did not let Guru ji eat, drink or sleep.  Chandoo threatened Guru ji to accept his daughter’s proposal.  He started to torture Guru ji.  Guru ji didn’t not accept his proposal.  Guru ji said he was egotistical.  He then put Guru ji in a cauldron full of boiling water.  He put hot sand on Guru ji and then made him sit on a hot plate.  Guru ji was running his own drama.  He didn’t let us do anything.  Guru ji didn’t do anything out of the will of Akaal Purakh.  We could have easily killed Chandoo but Guru ji wanted to finish the radiance of the Turks’ kingdom.  One Gursikh could have finished it with a blow but Guru ji stopped all of us.  We were beaten but we were told to sit down by Guru ji.  He told us: “this is my drama.”  In front of our eyes, we saw Guru ji tortured.  Guru ji then went to bathe at the shores of the Ravi.  Guru ji reciting Japji Sahib, did Keertan and let his body go.  Many Sikhs of Lahore gathered at that time.  We rested Guru ji’s body into the waters of the Ravi.  This all happened in front of our eyes.  We are only Sikhs by name.  We saw his martyrdom.  We should have died before him but we saw him leave this world.  We are stone-hearted.  We saw our Guru attain martyrdom.”  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji felt a deep pain in his heart.  He spoke out loud: “Guru ji, you left us to go to Sach Khand!  You were the support of the Sangat.  These Sikhs were waiting to see you.  You left everyone.”  The young Guru cried.  The Sangat saw him and began to cry.

Mata Ganga ji was sitting calmly in the main house.  She heard the crying and sent a maid.  The maid told her of Guru ji’s martyrdom.  Mata ji’s heart felt like it crumbled by the strike of the Bajjar.  It was a major tragedy in the Guru’s home.  Mata ji began to cry.  Her face wilted at the news.  The maids came to console her.  The maids cried and pulled their hair.  They raised their arms and screamed out loud in grief.  Everyone in Amritsar heard and cried.  Everyone gathered near Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  They cried out loud and mourned the departing of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They remembered Guru Arjan Dev ji and felt upset.  Guru Arjan Dev ji was loving to all.  Everyone said: “he left his son.  The kingdom is with the sinners.  Who will hold the Divaans?  Who will complete the Ardaas of the Sikhs?  Who will bless the Sikhs now?  You had many Sikhs who came to visit you.  You would reach your Sikhs in other lands with your powers.  The Turks are tyrants.  They don’t do justice.  Guru ji, there is darkness everywhere now.  The Turks don’t know right from wrong.  They prey on the weak.  Where did you go?”  The women cried out loud.  They all got together and remembered Guru ji.  There was crying and mourning everywhere.  The women had their hair open and cried out lout.  Everyone remembered the omnipotent Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He was so powerful and still tolerated all the torture.  He tolerated the most severe pain.  Guru ji was the most forgiving.  Women were beating their heads with their hands.  As people found out, they would come to mourn.

Guru Hargobind Sahib ji was shedding tears.  The Sangat was gathered and cried.  They remembered Guru Arjan Dev ji and shed tears.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji says: “it seems as the sorrow had made its home in Amritsar.”  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji said: “you are the ocean of virtue.  Who will put his loving hand on my head?  I will never be able to sit in my father’s lap again.  Where will I find this?  I couldn’t even see you at your end time.  This is evident in the past, present and future; no one has ever left their body like you did.  Nobody knows your greatness.  No one is as great as you.”  The 5 Sikhs came close to Guru ji.  Guru ji said to them: “did Guru Arjan Dev ji send a message for the Sikhs?  What did he say?  Tell me the whole story.  Tell me what is the message for me so I can be in joy.”  He cried as he asked the Sikhs.  He was in sorrow at being separated form his father.  His throat swelled up.  The servants saw this and cried.  Everyone was depressed an in pain.  The Gyanis were connected with the love of Guru ji but struck with grief.  They let go of their Gyaan and cried.  This was Prema Bhagti.  This was the way of the world.  The Gyani understands and feels the pain of the world.  The Brahmgyaani is not made of stone.  The Brahmgyaani is deep in emotions and in tuned with the feelings of the world.  Many people became quiet and remembered Guru ji.

Seeing the state of the Sangat, Baba Bhudda ji, who was the idol of Brahmgyaan, gave hope to everyone.  He praised the Guru.  He spoke of the praises to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and the Sangat.  Everyone calmed down after Baba Bhudda ji spoke.

4-40 Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji takes an Oath

Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and the senior Sikhs were crying in separation of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Baba Bhudda ji was sitting in the Sangat.  He noticed everyone’s state and said: “let go of your pain.  It is not right to mourn Guru Arjan Dev ji’s departure from this world.  His glory is being praised in the 14 loks.  Just as clouds come into existence to clean the salty water of the ocean and rain it on the land, that is how Guru Arjan Dev ji was.  The clouds make the land green and leave.  Saints bless the people and go back to Sach Khand.  Guru ji is in the permanent bliss.  He came to this world to bless the people, to rain Gyaan on them; and went back to his home.  He seated Guru Hargobind Sahib ji on to the Gurta Ghaddi.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is One with the Brahm form.  The task that he came for, he has completed that with success.  He even completed Kana Bhagat’s words.  He has set motion the series of events to destroy the Mughals’ rule.  He showed the world how to be tolerate by taking the pain caused by Chandoo’s torturing.  He showed everyone what a complete Brahmgyaani is.  The ones who see their Aatma separate from their body’s being, those saints are one with the Brahm.  Guru Arjan Dev ji did not give attention to his body’s existence.  He only witnessed through the Jot of Brahm, the Aatma.  He lived in this world as a human and did what the traditions of the body is.  He didn’t interfere with anything and lived like a human.  Bhagat Kabeer ji, Bhagat Namdev ji and others faced problems and pains.  They remembered the Prabhoo in their time of pain.  They showed the people of the time changes in situations.  When an elephant came to kill Bhagat Kabeer ji, Bhagat ji showed his power to stop the elephant.  The elephant saw the power of Akal Purakh and bowed to Bhagat ji.  Guru Arjan Dev ji did not show any powers to ward off the pian.  When one shows powers for the protection of their own bodies, this is considered to be Gyaan that is still in progress.  Only the Aatma is true.  The world is temporary and fragile.  The Brahmgyaani sees everything besides the Aatma as a myth.  This was Guru Arjan Dev ji’s determination.  Guru Arjan Dev ji saw the existence as one homogenous existence.  He only saw the one Akaal Purakh.  The world is a myth.  He saw the hot plate, the boiling water, friend or foe as the same.  He saved many and showed them the Oneness.  By his blessings, many became One with the Brahm.  The ones who had good karma, they received the fruits of the world through their senses.  They experienced pleasure through their senses and wasted their lives.  They didn’t do Bhagti or use Yoga to control their senses.  They didn’t obtain Gyaan or Vairagya (detachment from pleasures).  Those kinds of people deserve to be mourned as they are unfortunate.  They wasted their human lives and sold it for cheap.  They didn’t do Simran of Satnam.  They got stuck in the noose of the Jumms and went to the realm of the Jumms.  Those fools are worthy of mourning.  They were born in many life forms.  They went to Hell for the bad Karmas.  The ones who didn’t do Satsangat even in their dreams, they deserved to be mourned.  The ones who didn’t have faith in the Guru; didn’t stop their minds from following sensory desires; discarded virtues and embraced the vices; they are deserving of being mourned for.  The ones who did not focus their attentions on the Guru, nor did the Seva of the Guru; they lived in ego; they didn’t know the greatness of the Guru’s glory; they are deserving of mourning.  In this world and the next, Satguru Arjan Dev ji will always be with us.  Whoever remembers him, he will help them.  Whoever does Guru Arjan Dev ji’s Simran, Guru Arjan Dev ji will visit them.  So tell me, why mourn such a Satguru?  Bow to Guru Arjan Dev ji and prepare Karah Prashaad.  Listen to Keertan.  Do Simran of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He will be present when you think of him.  He is omniscient.  He knows the love of every heart.  Whatever you see with your eyes is destined to be destroyed one day.  The ignorant fools only attach themselves to the world and the people and objects of this world.  This world is a dream.  It is not right to cry for Guru ji’s separation.  Do Keertan and Simran.  This is attachment.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji, please sit on the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji and bless the Sikhs.  Destroy the sinners of the Guru’s home.” 

Listening to the words of Baba Bhudda ji, Sri Guru Hargobind ji came into attention.  He was 11 years old at that time.  Guru ji asked the 5 Sikhs: “what did Guru ji say at his end time?”  Bhai Pirana ji spoke with love: “Sri Satguru ji gave us a message for you: “go and meet Sri Hargobind ji and give him hope.  Tell him not to mourn my departure.  Sing the glories of Govind.  Stop others from mourning as well.  Keep weapons and sit on the Takhat.  Keep an army as big as you can.  Take revenge by killing Chandoo.  Kill him a horrible death.  Give him pain.  The generation of Sri Guru Amar Das ji, call them to you and complete the tradition of the Guru Tilak.  Do the tradition of having Baba Bhudda ji placing the Teeka of Guruship on your forehead.  The elder Guru’s children and the Brahmgyaanis of the Guru’s home should be called.  Baba Bhudda ji and Bhai Gurdas ji is to be respected along with other Brahmgyaani Sikhs.  The elder Guru’s traditions are to be followed.  None is to be stopped or changed.  Keertan and Langar are to be the same.  A new tradition of warriorism is to be started.  The other traditions are to be the same.  Don’t cremate my body.  Set my body into the Ravi.  Visiting the Ravi River will be the same as visiting me.  My head is the north and my feet are the south of it.”  1663 Vikram, Jeth Sudhi 4^th was the day of the Shaheedi.  Chandoo tortured Guru ji in many ways.  He did things we can’t say.  Guru ji did not eat, drink or sleep for 5 days.  Instead of respecting Guru ji, he gave him immense pain.  We need to kill him.  We need to return to him what he did to Guru ji.  We are going to avenge our father Guru ji’s death.  We are going to punish him first.  We saw him torturing Guru ji.  We couldn’t watch.  We are going to drag him through feces and mud.  We are going to give him pain and send him to Hell.  He will stay in Hell for 1,000 Kalapas.  He will be punished for disrespecting Guru ji.  After 1,000 Kalapas, that is still not enough.”  Listening to Bhai Pirana ji, Guru Hargobind Sahib ji’s eyes became red and his biceps became filled with tensity.  The warrior spirit entered his body.  He was 11 years old but looked like he was 18.  The tears from his eyes came to his lips.  His lips twitched.  His face and eyes were red with anger.  His eyebrows became arched like two bows.  He spoke in the Divaan to the whole Sangat: “I will complete Pithaji’s command.  If I don’t catch Chandoo and tie reins on his head, the sins of the world will come onto my head.  Those sins will end up in great pain.  It will be equal to the sin of committing adultery everyday; like the sin of looting others; like turning back to one’s Guru or being corrupt; like the sin of lying; I will take on those sins if I don’t make Chandoo’s face black.  If I don’t do that, it will be like stabbing a friend in the back or killing someone for no reason; breaching someone’s trust; being jealous of someone’s success; being jealous of someone else’s praises; slandering one’s Guru; being greedy and killing one’s own family; giving pain to one’s parents; making one’s parents chest hurt in pain.  If I don’t slap Chandoo’s head with shoes, may I be charged with all these mentioned sins.”  Guru ji took this oath in Sangat.  He was determined to avenge his father’s death. 

Guru Hargobind Sahib ji went to the Amritsar Sarovar and took a dip.  He then commemorated his father by completing the traditions after the death of one’s parents.  Guru ji changed his clothes and came home.  Mata Ganga ji was in deep pain.  She said to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji: “I will cremate myself with Guru ji’s clothes.  I can’t take his separation.  I want to leave this world.  I want to go to my husband.  To live without my husband is painful.”  Seeing his mother in pain Guru Hargobind Sahib ji said to Baba Bhudda ji: “give Mata ji hope.”  Mata ji sat behind a curtain and Baba Bhudda ji spoke to her: “let go of your pain.  What Guru ji has commanded; I will tell you: “Mata ji, Guru Hargobind Sahib ji is young and so is your daughter-in-law, Sri Damodri ji.  If you leave, what will happen to them?  They need your guidance.  You are the support of all the Sikhs after Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Guru ji is present here.  If you remember him, he is here.  What’s the point of mourning him?  What will happen to the Sangat without you?  You must take care of the Sangat.  Guru ji left the Guru’s home to you.  He commanded us all to not mourn his departure.  We are to seat Guru Hargobind Sahib ji on the Takhat and have a celebration.  We are to continue the traditions.  Only you can do this.  It is not right to cremate the Sati.  It is not right to die like this without Guru ji’s permission.  It is not befitting for you to follow the tradition of Sati.  Let go of your mourning.  Do the Simran of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Focus your attention on him.  You will go to Guru Arjan Dev ji in Sach Khand when you die.  Please don’t think or say this again.  Don’t think of cremating yourself alive.  Let go of your mourning and command the Sangat.”  Mata Ganga ji heard the wise words of Baba Bhudda ji and followed his guidance.  Everyone listened to Baba Bhudda ji.  She thought to herself: “I shouldn’t mourn like others.  Saints and Gurus shouldn’t be mourned.  I am the wife of the master of the universe Guru Arjan Dev ji, the daughter-in-law of Guru Ramdas ji.  I am without pain and conflict.  This is house is always in bliss.  Sikhs come here for guidance.”  Mata ji came back to her Brahmgyaan and took charge of the traditions of the Guru’s home.  Mata ji didn’t eat anything that day.  The Sikhs all remembered the glory of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They did Keertan.  They also thought of Chandoo: “he is a sinner.  He deserves to die.”  They wanted to kill Chandoo.  Hindus and Muslims all swore and cursed Chandoo: “the sinner will go to Hell.”